Hotel show to unveil 'in-visible spaces'

Renowned futurist Colin Seah will present his creative, curved hotel room concept at the industry showpiece which takes place at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre from 8-10 June 2008.

"I have always believed in the power of space to transform - the banal into the poetic, the everyday into the sublime," said Seah of the Ministry of Design. He is creating the exciting concept hotel room for Dubai-based Depa, the largest international interior contracting company in the Middle East, North Africa and South East Asia. Depa, a strategic partner of The Hotel Show, will boast one of the most prominent stands at the exhibition.

Called "In-Visible Spaces," Seah's seamless, curved room of glass walls encompass inner spaces containing a bed chamber, lounge space and a bathtub, in which "luxury is not having more space but having more spaces."

Maggie Moore, Exhibition Director of The Hotel Show, which attracts regional owner-operators, key decision makers from international hotel chains, architects, interior designers and other industry professionals, said: "The Ministry of Design's explorations are created in a studio-like atmosphere and have gained international recognition throughout the hospitality industry.

"Depa takes a uniquely pioneering approach by giving designers such as Seah a blank canvass. Visitors will see for themselves the amazing creativity that is possible when imagination is allowed full rein."

Depa Room General Manager Fulvia Fontanot added: "The Ministry of Design is an integrated spatial-design practice that blurs the boundaries between interior space and exterior form. They have taken their innovative ideas and through diligence and precision, have made them into real experiences. Their design for a concept hotel room is one such example where the skills of the designer have been equalled only by the skills of the contractor."

Depa is a key supporter of the Hotel Show, which has evolved into one of the most important dates on the international hospitality industry calendar. In excess of 17,500 square metres of exhibition space have been reserved this year, to accommodate surging demand from both international and regional exhibitors and the show is heading towards a complete sell-out.

Mohannad Sweid, CEO, Depa, said:

:"The Hotel Show has grown substantially since its inception in line with the growth of hotel development. Industry analysts have estimated that 130 new hotels will come onstream in the Gulf Co-operation Council countries by 2010. Our strategy behind this exclusive partnership deal with the Hotel Show is to accentuate our market leading position and strengthen our brand exposure."

Sponsored by Depa, Seah will also be a keynote speaker at the Seven Star Conference which runs alongside The Hotel Show, where he will elaborate on his design ethos. Other topics on the programme include sustainability, the use of technology in the hotels of the future, staff retention, motivation and development and the latest branding and marketing techniques for food and beverage outlets.